England answer Eddie Jones’ call for Italy ‘hiding’

Italy 9 England 40: England delivered the “good hiding” of Italy demanded by Eddie Jones to leave the Stadio Olimpico with a 40-9 victory that keeps alive their Grand Slam quest.

Jonathan Joseph plundered a hat-trick of tries in a final half-hour dominated by the Red Rose, while George Ford and Owen Farrell also crossed on an afternoon that saw the Azzurri suffer a late collapse.

Until Joseph struck for the first time in the 53rd minute, the “absolutely brutal” demolition in which no Italian was “left standing” sought by Jones looked a bold ambition with the lead a slender 11-9.